'How could this be!' Samsung struck by double-day disaster! Top starter Choi Won-tae also removed from 1st division roster due to "hip discomfort symptoms" following coach's fracture injury; pursuit of the league leader enters emergency mode.

*This content was translated by AI.

Samsung Lions have indeed been struck by a double-day disaster. Following the unexpected injury of a coach on the previous day (the 22nd), right-handed pitcher Choi Won-tae (29), who was part of the starting rotation, has also been sidelined due to injury. Fortunately, he is expected to miss only about one turn in the rotation, but for Samsung, with just 12 regular-season games remaining until the season ends, this is inevitably a painful blow.

On the 23rd, Samsung removed pitcher Choi Won-tae from its 1st division roster. The club explained, "Choi Won-tae was excluded from the roster due to slight pinching symptoms in his left hip joint. Although it is not a serious injury, we plan to have him skip one turn in the rotation and calmly prepare for his next start as a measure to protect the player."

Originally, Choi Won-tae was scheduled to start against Incheon SSG Landers on the 25th according to the rotation order. However, hip discomfort symptoms emerged just before his scheduled appearance, forcing an abrupt halt to his rotation assignment. With one pillar of the starting rotation suddenly gone, Samsung faced no choice but to secure a replacement starter and activate its bullpen for the day.

This was yet another devastating blow for Samsung, arriving just one day after the previous disaster. On the 22nd, the club received shocking news that Park Han-i (47), the hitting coach, had been hospitalized with a fractured rib bone following an unexpected fall accident. Having lost a key leader in the hitting department, Samsung immediately removed Coach Park Han-i from the roster and urgently promoted Coach Bae Young-seop (40) from the Futures League team to handle the situation on the 1st division level.

Fortunately, despite the chaotic atmosphere, Samsung managed to catch its breath with an 8-5 victory over NC Dinos in a home game at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 22nd. However, before the joy of victory could even fade, the next day brought another heart-stopping blow as starting pitcher Choi Won-tae was also removed from the roster, marking two consecutive days of distressing setbacks.

The gap is particularly painful at this critical juncture in the fierce standings battle. Second-place Samsung (77 wins, 52 losses, 3 ties) continues its chase to reclaim first place, trailing leader KT Wiz by 3.5 games. Yet, even as they push forward with all their might, third-place LG Twins have surged ahead with seven consecutive victories in recent days, closing the gap to just 2.5 games behind Samsung. In this precarious situation, both the bench and the mound have suffered unexpected losses.

Choi Won-tae has appeared in 23 games this season, recording 7 wins, 5 losses, 121⅔ innings pitched, 115 strikeouts, and an ERA of 4.59. He was a pitcher who consistently maintained the rotation, starting all 23 of his appearances. Among starting pitchers, he has logged the third-most innings, behind Won Tae-in (135⅓ innings) and Hurado (125⅔ innings).

If this concludes as a simple "one-turn rest" for protective purposes as the club explained, it would be fortunate; however, the bench's deep concern grows as they must prevent bullpen overload and reorganize the mound. Amidst these two consecutive days of devastating news, it remains highly intriguing to see how Samsung will overcome this crisis.

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*This content was translated by AI.